How do i get my horse to collect up?

Question

I need help teaching my horse to drop her head and collect up. Any ideas ?????
thaks alot for your time

Answer 1

If you want your horse to naturally collect, you need to give with the reins and make sure you have a correct seat. Relax your hips, allow her to move underneath you. Your legs should be framing the horse, with enough pressure to hold a peice of paper to the horses side without crumpling it. Make sure you sit on your bum and relax your lower back, allowing the reins with your arms, not your hands. You should imagine that you are holding the horses bit in your hands, because that is all the reins are- an extention of your hands to the horses mouth. You should be able to see an imaginary line going from your shoulders, to your hip, to your heel- this is how you know you are balanced. You shouldn't hold the horse in by the mouth, this teaches them to lean on the bit. Some people will tell you to do this, but it puts unnecessary pressure on the horses mouth. A horse will learn through time to use their body effectively, as long as you are riding them the correct way. The trick is to give, give, give, and maintain a relaxed disposition. If you feel any part of your body tensing up, you can guarantee she will feel it too and respond accordingly. Just remember, collection starts from the back end, you need to allow them to push from the hindquarters (using a correct seat) and move forward, stretching through their back into a collected frame (in which case holding them back with the reins will reverse the flow of movement).

Hope I've helped- good luck :) If I have confused you, get an instructor in to show you how it's done- if you want your horse to work the way it's body is designed- that is the way to go. Changing bits and pulling harder will get you nowhere .

Answer 2

Some horses are much more difficult to make "set their head" than others. When doing so you may want to start her with draw reins so she gets the feeling of it. Then when you are doing it without the draw reins. Sit back in the saddle and get her hind end under her. Bring you shoulders back and press her forward. When she listens reward her.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

when you first go into the ring start off with a nice walk - feel the rythmn and slowly get him to relax his head and try to get him to stretch his neck as far as he can to the ground.Lean forward and w/ a long rein lightly giggle the reins back and forth until he lowers his head.PAT him every time he does it right. Now pick up the trot, slow and with the reins still loose and try to keep his head low- now start to sit back and get him to move forward into a nice extended trot - now like you almost want tolift him into a more upward movement, he will let you know, start to gather your reins up-slowly and sit back in your tack and raise your hands -lightly and giggle them. The secret to a good frame is the balance between your leg and hands-pushing your horse forward into a frame. When he does what you want pat and love him - I keep my pockets full of horse cookies.He will understand what you want-and all he wants to do is make you happy-so reward him often-thats my secret

Answer 4

Sit deep in the saddle and but a bit of extra pressure on the reins. When she collects releace the puressure, tell her she is a good girl,and coninue to put lots of weight on your seat.